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E. P.'EKMAN.

PISTON RING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18, 1919.

1,363fl39., Patented Dec. 28,1920.

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PISTON-RING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed. October 18, 1919. Serial No. 331,601.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EINAR P. EKMAN, having declared myself to become a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of ing, which forms a part of my specification.

My invention relates to a piston ring more especially intended for use in internal combustion motors; and the invention has for its object the provision of an oil and compression proof ring of such construction as to provide a double seal, as it were, against the passage of the gases during both the compression and the expansion strokes of the piston within the cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple one piece ring of such construction that the split ends thereof will be interlocked when the ring has been placed in the ring-receiving groove of the pistonhead and the latter is inserted within the cylinder; the split ends of the ring being so formed that the same will at all times be interlocked, whether the piston is on compression stroke or on exhaustion stroke; with the result that the passage of gases will be practically made impossible, while at the same time the passage of oil into the compression chamber through the pumping action of the piston will be prevented.

My improved piston ring is adapted to adjust itself to what may be termed oversized or worn cylinders, within a reasonable range or limit and yet at the same time provide a compression proof and oil-tight construction, which will accommodate itself to any expansion that may take place, so that perfect combustion is assured and the maximum power of the stroke obtained.

The above enumerated objects and advantages of my improved ring, as well as other advantages inherent in the construction, will be more fully comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved ring shown in contracted condition.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a section of the ring, namely of the split ends and illustrating the opposite side from that shown in Fig. l; with the ends arranged in interlocking or contracted relation.

Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the ends of the ring in separated or expanded relatlon; the figure showing the exterior side of the ring-ends.

Fig. 4: is a similar view, looking at the inside surface, with the ring moved halfway around, that is through about 180 degrees of a circle.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the fragmentary portion of the ring in Fig. 3, except that the ends have been brought into partially closed position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the exterior side of the ring-ends, illustrating the same in completely closed position.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4:, illustrating the ends completely closed as in Fig. 6, but looking at the inner circumference of the ring which has been disposed in the same manner as in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one end of the ring; namely the end shown at the left in Fig. 3. V

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the other end; namely the one shown at the right in Fig. 3.

My invention as disclosed in the drawing comprises a single-piece ring 10 of resilient metal, split transversely so as to permit the split ends to normally expand beyond the true circumference of the ring, thus enabling the ring to be sprung into place on a pistonhead and then contracted and held in such condition by the walls of the cylinder after the piston has been put into place.

The disconnected ends 11 and 12 of the ring are of peculiar construction and arrangement so as to articulate and provide a compression or gas-proof joint when the ring is inserted into place in operative position.

The end is diagonally cut so as to provide the tongue or lip 13 parallel with what we will term the top side of the ring. The tongue or lip 13 is of. less thickness than the thickness of the major portion of the ring; the tongue 13 being preferably about one-half the thickness of the ring and in depth and preferably of transverse width equal to about one-half the thickness of the ring. As shown in the drawing, the recess 14 is preferably of substantially the same dimensions as the shoulder portion 15, and the length of the shoulder 15 is also preferably of the same length as the base 16 of the tongue or lip 13.

The other end 12 is formed just the opposite from the end 11, and is adapted to articulate with the end 11. The end 12 has a' tongue 17 integral and in circumferential alinement with the exterior surface of the ring; while the end of the tongue 17 is kerfed so as to provide an extension or lip 18 of dimensions equal to the recess 14 of end 11; and therefore providing a kerf of dimensions equal to the shoulder 15, in order to permit a complete dove-tailing of these parts.

The tongue 17, like tongue 13, is also substantially half the thickness of the ring, so that when the two tongues are brought into overlapping relation, the combined thickness is equal to that of the ring.

The end 12 adjacent to the tongue 17, and on the inner surface thereof is cut diagonally at the same degree as the diagonal formation of tongue 13, so as to provide the sloping shoulder 19, which inclines rearwardly from the other end thereof as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The base of the shouk 9 is removed from the lower outer end of the tongue 17, the same distance as the shoulder 15 is removed from the lower end of the tongue 13; in other words, the various tongues, kerfs and shoulders are all of corresponding dimensions in order that there may be complete articulation of the ends 11. and 12 when the ring has been compressed into completely closed condition as shown in Figs. 1,2, 6 and 7.

With the construction shown and de scribed, it is apparent that the diagonal tongue 13 and diagonal or sloping shoulder 19 will prevent the ends separating into non-alined relation through any downward pressure exerted on the ring as positioned in the drawing; while the shoulder 15 and the lip 18 will interlock and maintain the ends in alined relation during any upward pressure on the ring as positioned in the drawing; this interlocking relation being, of course, maintained when the ring and piston-head have been inserted into the cylinder.

My improved ring, therefore, provides a double seal as it were, which will prevent the gases escaping transversely or directly through the split ends on the compression stroke of the piston; while at the same time a joint is provided which will prevent passage of oil during the reciprocation of the piston, as no open passage by which fluid or gas may pass fronrone side of the ring to the other is presented. At the same time a single piece ring is provided which will accommodate itself to any degree of expansion, within reasonable limits and yet enable an interlocking or articulation of the ends so as to produce a seal against gas or oil passage.

The construction shown and described I believe to be the simplest and best embodiment of my invention, but modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Vhat I claim is A transversely split, resilient ring of the character described, one end whereof is reduced on the outer surface thereof while the other end is reduced on the inner surface thereof so as to permit them to overlap, the reduced portion of the first mentioned end terminating in a beveled. edge, with the apex of the bevel disposed toward the opposite end of the ring, while the second mentioned end is provided with a beveled shoulder on the inner surface adjacent to the reduced portion thereof, corresponding with the bevel of the first mentioned end so as to engage therewith, the reduced portion of the second mentioned end beyond the beveled shoulder being kerfed to provide a lip in circumferential alinement with the tip or apex of the beveled edge of the first mentioned end but transversely offset therefrom so as to overlap said first mentioned end, while the first mentioned end is recessed on its outer surface to correspond with and to receive said lip and to provide a shoulder on the outer surface at a point adjacent to the reduced portion of the first mentioned end; adapted to extend into the kerf of said second mentioned end, the degree of bevel of said beveled end and the shoulder and the length of said lip or extension and said recess being all correlated so as to permit contraction of the ring and provide a complete interlocking juncture between the ends against separation vertically in one direction by said beveled edge and shoulder and in the opposite direction by said superposed lip and shoulder.

EINAR P. EKlVIAN.

Witnesses:

Gr. HEIDMAN, F. A. FLORELL. 

